F6F-5N

F6F-5N

F8F-1

F4U-1C

F6F-5N

F8F-1

F4U-1C

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.0	4.3	4.3

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Torpedo bomber

Research:33 000

Purchase:105 000

Show in game

This page is about the American naval fighter F6F-5N. For the French version, see F6F-5N (France). For other versions, see F6F (Family).

Description

The F6F-5N Hellcat is a rank III American naval fighter with a battle rating of 5.0 (AB) and 4.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 5,730 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
602	581	11000	22.2	23.1	8.1	8.1	399
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 5,730 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
661	629	11000	19.8	21.0	16.7	11.8	399

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
803		510	~11	~4

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 432	< 420	< 420	> 420

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
518 m	2,000 hp	2,398 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,724 m	1,800 hp	2,158 hp
Setting 3
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,400 m	1,650 hp	1,978 hp

Survivability and armour

• 3 mm steel - below the engine and above cooling system
• 6.35 mm steel - behind the pilot
• 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

Armaments

Offensive armament

A page from the F63/F6F pilots manual detailing protective angles against enemy weapons.

The F6F-5N is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, wing-mounted (231 rpg = 462 total)
• 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

Suspended armament

The F6F-5N can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 6 x HVAR rockets
• 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets (2,000 lb total)
• 1 x Mk.13/44 torpedo

Usage in battles

There was a reason the F6F was a standout fighter during World War II. As a fighter, it was versatile, not only as an aerial fighter but also as a ground pounder.

Aerial combat

• This F6F had a bit of weight to it which allowed it to perform well as a Boom & Zoom fighter. With a total of six guns, two M2 Browning machine guns and one 20 mm cannon in each wing, this fighter can take out enemy fighters without much trouble.

Ground attack

• The F6F excels in ground attack where it can be outfitted with either bombs or rockets. The 1,000 lb bombs have a devastating effect on ships and hardened structures not to mention vehicles which are clustered in a compact area. The agility of the aircraft makes it ideal to outfit rockets whether it is the HVAR or Tiny Tim rockets. The larger Tiny Tim rockets will pack a huge punch in armoured vehicles and ships while also able to damage bases (though nowhere near as well as bombs). HVAR rockets work best when reserved for armoured vehicles some hardened concrete structures and bombers. The rockets can be outfitted with contact fuses or time-delayed fuses.

Naval attack

• The previously mentioned weapons for both aerial and ground attack can be utilised with great success in the naval arena as all weapons can cause damage to naval aircraft and ships. The F6F can carry a single specialised naval weapon, a Mk.13/44 torpedo which requires a slow and low approach to a ship to ensure the torpedo does not sink nor miss its target. While this is vulnerable and comprising to fly at a ship shooting back, a torpedo on target can yield a sunken ship.

Radars

The F6F-5N is equipped with an AN/APS-6 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in a pod under the right wing tip.

AN/APS-6 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum Detection Range	Guaranteed Detection Range	Max Azimuth Scan Angle	Max Elevation Scan Angle
60,000 m (theoretical)	7,200 m	±60°	±60°
AN/APS-6 - Target Tracking Radar
Maximum Tracking Range	Minimum Tracking Range	Azimuth Tracking Angle	Elevation Tracking Angle
1,000 m	150 m	±15°	±15°

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 3 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm	ITC mk.III
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs	FRC mk.2
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm	LFRC mk.12
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons	FLBC mk.1

Payload modules unlock the following:

• ITC mk.III: One torpedo
• FRC mk.2: Six HVAR rockets
• LFRC mk.12: Two Tiny Tims
• FLBC mk.1: Two 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has 2 x 20 mm cannons
• Great variety of weapons for any map, aerial combat, ground attack and maps with naval ships
• Decent climb rate and manoeuvrability
• Has a search and tracking radar
• Workhorse naval fighter

Cons:

• Slower than the standard F6F-5
• Not as energy-efficient on a zoom climb like a P-47
• Overall worse performance than F6F

History

A page from the F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual showing the differences found in the F6F-5N cockpit, with the radio altimeter indicator and radar scope being pointed out.

The F6F-5N was a modification of the standard F6F-5 for use as a night fighter. These aircraft were fitted with additional equipment in the form of a radio altimeter and radar. The Westinghouse AN/APS-6 radar was installed on the starboard wing of the F6F-5N, with units being completed in middle and late 1944. The APS-6 served as a method to search and destroy hostile aircraft in conditions with zero visibility, with data being displayed in a standard B-scope view of the target azimuth on the x-axis and target range on the y-axis. Aside from target search and tracking, the APS-6 could also be used in a navigation role by tracking a radar emitter or beacon with a search range of up to 100 miles. Due to the simplifications from the earlier AN/APS-4 radar, the APS-6 was small enough to be installed in single-engine aircraft which allowed for independent action among night fighters. Another feature of the F6F-5N was the Type GR-1 automatic pilot, which gave pilots the ability to maintain a stable flight attitude with minimal input. Just as with the F6F-5, the -5N used the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W and had provisions to used a mixed armament of 2x 20 mm M2 cannons and 4x .50 cal Browning machine guns. The F6F-5N is noted as being one of the better American night fighters during World War II and was chosen to be a night fighter over other aircraft such as the F4U Corsair.

Media

• 

  An underside view of a F6F-5N carrying two Tiny Tim rockets. These rockets had to be released before igniting so to clear the propeller arc.
• 

  A view of a F6F-5N firing off a Tiny Tim rocket at an enemy target.
• 

  A side view of the shackle connection of the Tiny Tim rocket to the external pylon of the F6F-5N.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• AviationShoppe link for Grumman F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual
• Ibiblio HyperWar link for "The AN/APS-6 Aircraft Radar"

References

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
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F6F Hellcat	F6F-5 · F6F-5N
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